Hangzhou, China, October 5, 2023 – Anticipation in the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Women’s Volleyball Competition has reached a fever pitch when four top contenders strut their stuff in do-or-die semifinals on Friday, with China and Thailand setting up 2018 Asian Games final rematch and Japan confronting Vietnam at Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium.
Contesting their last Top 8 encounters on Thursday, China overpowered Vietnam 3-0 and Korea demolished DPR Korea 3-1 in Pool E, while Japan stunned Thailand 3-0 and Chinese Taipei produced comeback 3-1 win against Kazakhstan in Pool F.
At the packed Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium on Thursday, world No.6 China, defending champions, Rio de Janeiro Olympic gold medallists and silver medallists at this year’s VNL, proved too strong for Vietnam to pull off lopsided 25-13, 25-13, 25-11 triumph over the AVC Challenge Cup winners.
China, backed by boisterous home fans packing the 8,033-seater gymnasium, took total control in the first set, producing impeccable defence and exceptional attacks from left-hander Li Yingying, tall and towering Yuan Xinyue, 202cm, and hard-hitting Wang Yunlu for the easy 25-13 win.
China started their second set on a high note to take an initial lead with a seven-point clear at 10-3. Vietnam head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet decided to rest their best players and field substitutions including opposite Doan Thai Xuan, outside hitter Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, setter Vo Thi Kim Thoa and middle blocker Ly Thi Luyen.
Still, they found the Chinese too hot to handle and succumbed to another 25-13 defeat. The third set turned out to be one-way traffic as Chinese stormed on their relentless attacks to lead by wide margin 23-10, allowing the visitors only one more point to comfortably wrap up the set 25-11 and match.
China had four players who reached double digits, with middle blocker Yuan Xinyue leading the way with 17 points from 8 kills, 7 stuffs and 2 aces. Middle blocker Wang Yuanyuan, outside hitter Wang Yunlu and outside hitter Li Yingying added 12 points apiece for the China’s crucial win. Outside hitter Vi Thi Nhu Quynh led Vietnam with 7 points.
The Chinese dominated the blocking game, getting 16 stuffs to Vietnam’s 2. The host side also did a very good job of leading their opponents in kills (41 to 26) and aces (5 to 1), besides benefitting from more opponent errors (13 to 8).
Following the great win, China maintained their remarkable unbeaten run in…
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